World's largest telecom carrier explores quantum computing

China Mobile, the world's largest telecom carrier by mobile subscribers, started officially exploring how to tap into quantum computing to overcome the computational bottlenecks facing 5G and 6G.

The research institute of China Mobile, which has now more than 900 million subscribers, inked a deal with Origin Quantum, a Chinese startup focusing on quantum computers and related technologies.

Under the agreement, Origin Quantum, based in Hefei, Anhui province, will provide quantum communication algorithms based on real machine verification of its superconducting quantum computer called OriginQWuyuan to help overcome the computational bottlenecks facing 5G and 6G.

Cui Chunfeng, president of the future research institute of China Mobile Research Institute, said "We hope to explore the possibility of applying quantum computing to achieve network optimization, network autonomy, network security and metaverse, and we hope to fundamentally solve the (computational) bottlenecks for the development of a future network."

Origin Quantum has made a number of breakthroughs in the field of quantum computing since its establishment in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone - which is also known as the Quantum Center - in 2017, according to media reports.

Its inventions, all of which are firsts in China, include a superconducting quantum computer called OriginQWuyuan, a quantum computing cloud platform equipped with a superconductor quantum computer, and a quantum computer operating system.